The United States has warned Venezuela that any threat against the US diplomats and the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido or the national assembly will be “met with a significant response”.

According to BBC news reports, the US national security advisor John Bolton said any intimidation against diplomats and Guiado would represent a “grave assault” on the rule of law.

Bolton’s warning came days after 20 countries along with Washington recognized Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. Guaido has called for the anti-government protest, calling his supporters to demonstrate protest on Wednesday and Saturday, in an effort to oust current president Nicolas Maduro and stable the country’s political crisis.

On January 23, the elected head of the opposition-held National Assembly Guaido declared himself as interim president of the country. The political crisis in the nation appeared to be more cracked amid growing tensions due to Guiado’s effort to unseat president Maduro.

Venezuela’s top military representative to the US Col José Luis Silva said he also recognized Guaido as president instead.

Bolton took it to Twitter to reiterate Washington’s warning and position against any form of “violence and intimidation”.

In a tweet, Bolton wrote: “Cuba’s support and control over Maduro’s security and paramilitary forces are well known.”

Cuba’s support and control over Maduro’s security and paramilitary forces are well known. 1/2

Bolton further wrote: “Any violence and intimidation against U.S. diplomatic personnel, Venezuela’s democratic leader, Juan Guiado, or the National Assembly itself would represent a grave assault on the rule of law and will be met with a significant response.”

Any violence and intimidation against U.S. diplomatic personnel, Venezuela’s democratic leader, Juan Guiado, or the National Assembly itself would represent a grave assault on the rule of law and will be met with a significant response. 2/2

Also on Twitter, Guaidó called for a two-hour “peaceful” strike on Wednesday and a “big national and international rally” on Saturday.

On Saturday, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain along with several other European countries said they would recognize Guaido as president if the presidential elections were not held within eight days.

On Sunday, Maduro told CNN, “Venezuela is not tied to Europe. This is complete insolence.” He added he was ready to “engage in comprehensive dialogue” with people opposing his presidency. He said he had sent the US president Donald Trump “many messages”, but he thought Trump “despises us”.

Venezuela’s foreign ministry said on Saturday, it would withdraw the expulsion order and instead would allow 30 days for both sides to set up “interest offices” in each other’s countries.

Countries like Turkey, China, Russia, and Mexico have publicly backed Maduro and his presidency. At a UN security council meeting on Saturday, Russia accused the US of plotting a coup.

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